has zlatan ibrahimovic become a general hate figure here or what!so many people over here seem to be calling for his head.everything from being overly arrogant to being not good enough for juventus has been shoved at him.
werent the same people over here raving about how brilliant a season he had last year?and now the same people are saying that we should sell him.i mean,seriously,is one season bad enough to kick someone out of your team,especially since that someone had a great season a year back?people would argue that everything surrounding him is pure hype,and judging by his performances this season,that argument might as well be valid.but is zlatan ibrahimovic going to be judged on the basis of this season alone?even his eternal haters cannot deny that he does have potential.wether you admit it or not,but someone who was one of the revelations of euro 04,someone who scored 16 goals in his very first season for us,someone who can pull off goals of the class he scored against roma and livorno this season - THAT someone does have potential.the only problem seems to be that that potential has not shined as brightly as everyone would have expected as far as the current season is concerned.
can you seriously imagine being in his shoes?has anyone over here thought over the possiblity that maybe the pressure got to him?we keep forgetting that he's 24 and not 34.someone who's had so many expectations attached to him from an early age is surely BOUND to feel the pressure at one point in this career and maybe this is that very point in his career.someone who arrived in italy with huge expectations,and then he lived up to those expectations,as a result of which the stakes were raised even higher,and people started expecting even more from him.such massive pressure being attached to him would have easily brought him down.not only him,but anyone who has such huge expectations attached to himself would have succumbed under the pressure.
not that it matters,but if someone of maradona's stature and class could feel the pressure then why cant zlatan?does anyone remember that red card maradona got in the '82 finas?or that ever famous pitch fight maradona got involved in during his time at barcelona?and what is maradona remember as today?one of the greatest players of all time.if maradona could crack under the pressure,if baggio could crack under the pressure at USA '94,if del piero could crack under the pressure at the euro 2000 finals then why does everyone make such a big issue about zlatan cracking under pressure?i am in NO way comparing zlatan to the players i mentioned.all im saying is that if some of the greatest names the game has produced can crack under the pressure then so can zlatan.he's human,he's NOT a robot,he can feel the pressure,and he can crack under it too.and he probably has to play up to the most pressure as far our players are concerned.
-his finishing IS poor.yes,that is something that is worrying.but since WHEN was zlatan ever played as an out n out striker?you cant expect him to finish off everything that is laid to his feet like trezeguet.having said that,yes,his finishing is poor,but that will only improve with time.he's a support striker,not an all n all out striker.
-people over have been having a go at him for his horrible passing abilities.its pretty easy to ignore the assists he's laid for trezeguet,rite?ofcourse his passing has been wayward this season,but he has had this fair share of assists.
-his temperament has been question.maybe people should be reminded that he was much more irrational at ajax then he is now.his temperament has improved a great deal,though there is still room for improvement.
-he's been called selfish.dont ALL world class players love the ball at their feet?and can anyone seriosuly DENY that zlatan can whip up magic with the ball when he's on song?and just because he's having a bad season means that he should abandon his natural style?no,i dont think so.having the ball at his feet is what he's good at.he can be brilliant when's he's on form and there is no way in hell that he should abandon his natural style.robbing a player of his natural game,a game mind you,that HAS been succesful in the past,would be criminal.
-he's getting more first starts than he deserves.yes,that IS true.but is that his fault?or is it the manager's fault?zlatan's fault is probably that he's been replacing a juventus icon a bit too often.which is something that has not gone down well with many people here.on current form yes,del peiro deserves to start ahead of zlatan.but del piero has been very effective coming off the bench.and maybe,him being confined to the bench has made this season such a memorable one for him.he's been fresh and he's been able to give everything when's come off the bench.having said that,del piero DOES deserve to start ahead of zlatan on current form.
is it really worth selling him?selling a player who on form can run circles around the best of defences?selling a player who's had a bad season and instead of supporting him so his confidence gets a boost,we end up bringing him down even harder.does he deserve such abuse?i dont think he does.i said this once before with regards to capello and ill say it again with regards to zlatan : how many in the delle alpi have u seen booing zlatan?how many times have u seen people in the delle alpi chanting slogans against zlatan?how many times have you seen people at the delle alpi hold banners against zlatan?how many times have you seen people holdies rallies in turin calling for zlatan's sale?the answer to all these questions would be 'never'.why?because one bad season isnt enough to make him a bad player.in the short career he's had,the number of bright spots outnumber the number of dark spots.and maybe people over here should support him,rather than bash him everytime he starts,which frankly speaking,is not his fault.
for all you del piero fans,no,he can never replace the great ale.no one can replace ale.but just because he's someone who might have the same role as ale on the pitch in the next few years is no reason to hate him.ale is safe.comparing him with ale isnt even fair.ale is a legend,zlatan is a young talent.more than anything else,he needs the backing of juventus fans.continously bashing him will do more harm than good.
get off his back,and support him.
p.s.im not a die hard zlatan fan,im a die hard juventus fan.and every player wearing the juventus jersey right now deserves respect and support,regardless of who he is.
